CHANDIGARH: In order to ensure procurement of every single grain of the paddy crop as desired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Mandi Board has notified 1854 purchase centres to ensure hassle-free procurement operations, beginning from October 1, said Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian.
S. Khudian, along with Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Harchand Singh Barsat and Special Chief Secretary Mr. KAP Sinha, was holding threadbare deliberations with the representatives of Arthiya Associations and Mandi Mazdoor Unions here at Kisan Bhawan to address their demands and issues being faced by them. He assured them that the Punjab Government will consider their all legitimate demands sympathetically and their interests would not get hampered.
"CM Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government is fully committed for the welfare of labourers and farmers. All the arrangements are in place to ensure smooth paddy procurement, " he said.
The Agriculture Minister informed that the state government has already revised the labour rates for the grain market workers by increasing it 1.04% as per consumer price index on September 20, 2023.
Apart from notifying the purchase centres, the Agriculture Minister said that all the arrangements have been made at grain markets for the farmers and labourers. He emphasised that the government will not let the farmers face any hardships.
He also urged the farmers to bring the fully ripened crop to the mandis so that they do not have to face any problem in selling their crop. Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Ms Amrit Kaur Gill and other senior officials were also present in the meeting.